Independent participatory media for Iran

Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees are leaving Iran because of economic hardship, which is exacerbated by the intensification of economic sanctions on Iran.

Afghan officials report that in the last six months, close to 200,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Iran of their own volition. The reported statistics show a 74-percent increase in the rate of refugees returning their country.

Officials in the Afghan province of Herat say many of the returning refugees do not have any documentation and the reasons given for their return include unemployment, lack of income, high prices and school restrictions for their children.

The Iranian economy is facing many challenges, as its national currency has plummeted in value and its oil revenues have been cut in half by international sanctions.

Iran has about 2.3 million Afghan refugees, 900,000 of which are undocumented.